Chrome OS isn’t going anywhere, says Google
The marriage between Chrome OS and Android has been rumored for years, with recent reports stating that the two operating systems could combine by the year 2017. Although the plan seems feasible, Google claims it’s not happening anytime soon.
There’s still much more to do
In a recent post on the official Google Chrome Blog, SVP of Android, Chrome OS and Chromecast Hiroshi Lockheimer says that while the company has been working on ways to bring together the best of the two operating systems, Google has “no plans to phase out Chrome OS.”
Lockheimer says there’s still more to do with Chrome OS. Google has plans to release more features to the OS such as a new media player, a Material Design visual refresh, improved performance and more security features. “With our regular six-week software cycle and guaranteed auto-updates for five years, Chromebooks keep getting better over time,” says Lockheimer.
Related: Android + Chrome OS: four big questions
Even though Google may not have immediate plans to fold Chrome OS into Android, we’ll definitely continue to see more and more features of Android make their way to Chrome OS, and vice versa. Recently, Google brought Android applications to Chrome OS via the ARC Welder tool. The company even recently launched a new tablet/laptop hybrid called the Pixel C, which is the first Pixel device to run Android.
So, you heard the man, Chrome OS isn’t going anywhere. At least not anytime soon. Google has made it clear that features in Chrome OS and Android will continue to bleed into one another, which is what’s been happening for a few years now.
OnePlus X and Chromedroid: Podcast 038
With Josh sitting this one out, Jonathan leads while Andrew, Joe and Nirave spend a good amount of time saying really nice things about the OnePlus X and the Samsung Galaxy View. One is a decidedly mid-range smartphone with a fairly small display, the other is a decidedly mid-range tablet with a honkin’ big 18.4-inch display. We are split on our thoughts of a merger between Android and Chrome OS, opinions are all over the place, fueled by the basic uncertainty as to what exactly may or may not happen to Android and that other OS that Google has. Enjoy AA Podcast #038.
The Android Authority Podcast – discussing topics in Android every week.
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OnePlus X – Hands on and first impressions
OnePlus X officialy announced
Android to merge with Chrome OS & just kidding!
Samsung Galaxy View hands on & release date
Follow our Hosts
Joshua Vergara
Twitter | Google+
Joseph Hindy
Twitter | Google+
Andrew Grush
Twitter | Google+
Jonathan Feist
Twitter | Google+
Nirave Gondhia
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Recorded on October 30th, 2015 – Hosted and Produced by Jonathan Feist on behalf of Joshua Vergara.
OnePlus X and Chromedroid: Podcast 038
With Josh sitting this one out, Jonathan leads while Andrew, Joe and Nirave spend a good amount of time saying really nice things about the OnePlus X and the Samsung Galaxy View. One is a decidedly mid-range smartphone with a fairly small display, the other is a decidedly mid-range tablet with a honkin’ big 18.4-inch display. We are split on our thoughts of a merger between Android and Chrome OS, opinions are all over the place, fueled by the basic uncertainty as to what exactly may or may not happen to Android and that other OS that Google has. Enjoy AA Podcast #038.
The Android Authority Podcast – discussing topics in Android every week.
Links to Podcast
RSS Feed
iTunes
Stitcher
SoundCloud
Direct Download
Relevant Links
OnePlus X – Hands on and first impressions
OnePlus X officialy announced
Android to merge with Chrome OS & just kidding!
Samsung Galaxy View hands on & release date
Follow our Hosts
Joshua Vergara
Twitter | Google+
Joseph Hindy
Twitter | Google+
Andrew Grush
Twitter | Google+
Jonathan Feist
Twitter | Google+
Nirave Gondhia
Twitter | Google+
Recorded on October 30th, 2015 – Hosted and Produced by Jonathan Feist on behalf of Joshua Vergara.
Acer Chromebook 15 review
The Chromebook 11 C740 is perfect for students on a budget or anyone needing a small and light machine they could take with them anywhere. But Acer has a much more powerful Chromebook in its lineup this year. Enter Acer’s Chromebook 15, a true powerhouse for all of your office needs. It’s also perfect for entertainment with its crisp Full HD display.
It’s an impressive machine, and it may be the only Chromebook you’ll ever need.
Design
This is no compact laptop. With such a large display, it needs to have a bigger housing. The new Chromebook 15 wants to be the machine that can meet all of your needs, and in doing that, portability isn’t the focus. At almost 5lbs, I’d hardly call the Chromebook lightweight, but it’s fairly easy to carry around.
Its housing sports a white-colored textured design, which looks alright while very generic. It has a microweave pattern, keeping the Chromebook from looking too generic, but that comes with a lot of downsides. The Chromebook 15 attracts dirt and grime way too easily. If you don’t clean it often, the dirt and grime it collects from sitting on your desk gets difficult to remove, making it a real eyesore.
The Chromebook is also oddly thick. You’d think a machine like this would have a certain amount of thinness to it with having such low specifications.
As far as the keyboard goes, it’s frustrating in that it’s not spacious enough. It resembles that of the compact C740 (and the Chromebook 13 from 2014). It’d be natural to think that a larger Chromebook would come with a more defined keyboard footprint. The trackpad is very responsive, and there’s little jump to it.
There are certainly a lot of pitfalls as far as design goes. It all feels so very generic, which isn’t something you want out of a pricier Chromebook. However, if you bought this Chromebook for media, you’re in luck.
Hardware
The Chromebook 15 has a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920×1080) display that shows media beautifully. Not only is it great for media, but the larger size allows you to manage more browsers, tabs, and other applications easily. There are also two front-facing speakers placed on either side of the keyboard, which sound good.
The model I was sent to review is the CB5-571-362Q, the unit with a Full HD display. Interestingly, Acer isn’t advertising this, but it’s actually an IPS panel, an interesting choice that doesn’t allow for those nice wide-viewing angles, and the matte finish evokes little glare. Other configurations of this model with a much less enthusiastic display, which in turn bring the price down.
On the left side of this unit is your power, an HDMI port, a USB 3.0 slot, and an auxiliary port.
On the right side is a SD card reader that can support up to 128GB of extra storage, and a USB 2.0 port. With this model you also get dual-band 802.11AC WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0.
Finally, above the screen is a 720p HD webcam along with a microphone.
Performance
Inside the Chromebook 15 is a fifth-generation Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM, and a wicked fast removable M.2 32GB SSD. This is possibly the most interesting aspect of the Chromebook 15’s hardware. The SSD is small in size, but if you were to ever need more room, there’s potential for breaking into the Chromebook and swapping it out for a larger capacity SSD.
Most probably won’t need more space than that on the Chromebook, given that all of your documents are in the cloud, but its a nice possibility for the power user. Beyond that, everything was smooth as expected. There were no hangups in testing, and things were generally faster and smoother than previous models. This machine boots up in an advertised 7 seconds. I even found it could do so in 5 seconds.
As far as performance goes, Acer did a fantastic job. I really like the ability to pop open the machine, something that many manufacturers are moving away from.
Battery
As per the norm on a Chromebook, battery life is out of this world. It’s frustrating having machines that only last two, three, maybe four hours of use, which is all commonplace as far as Windows laptops go. Not that that’s a bad thing. Windows laptops have much more powerful hardware than you’ll ever find in a Chromebook.
Acer understands the users’ needs for a long-lasting battery, and thus, threw a monster 3220mAh battery in here that can last up to nine hours of consistent use. In other words, you can get a full 8-hour work day from the Chromebook 15, even longer if you aren’t using it for eight hours straight. Very impressive.
Software
As you might expect, Acer’s Chromebook 15 is running the latest version of Google’s Chrome OS. Everything runs smoothly, applications open quickly, and the marketplace is constantly expanding with more applications, thus making a Chromebook even more useful.
For those not familiar with Chrome OS, it does require an Internet connection, though there’re ways to create documents offline, making an Internet connection not constantly necessary. You’ll need to connect up when it’s time to sync your documents to the cloud for access on another computer.
Honestly, there isn’t much to say here. Chrome OS, is still, well, Chrome OS. It’s not for everybody, as you can only access cloud-based applications. There’re no native Windows or Mac apps on this machine to be seen, though there’re ways to boot another operating system on here if you ever get tired of Chrome. However, at that point, you’ll see a serious drop in battery life and most certainly performance. And in that case, you mine as well have bought a different laptop.
Closing
The suggested retail price is $449, though you can buy it from the Google Store starting at $349, and other retailers may even have their own markdowns. Several other models start at $249 from various retailers, such as Amazon and Newegg.
When it comes down to it, the Acer Chromebook 15 is a nice machine specifically for media. That large and crisp 15.6-inch display paired with the dual speakers make for a great movie night or YouTube session, but at $349, it’s a very generic Chromebook that may leave you wanting to look elsewhere.
[Acer] [Google Store] [Amazon] [Newegg]
Come comment on this article: Acer Chromebook 15 review
Google’s Lockheimer says commitment still there for Chrome OS
Yesterday news broke indicating Google is planning to merge the Chrome OS operating system that powers Chromebooks and Chromebox devices into the Android operating system that is used on mobile devices. The move makes a lot of sense as a step to unify the operating systems and make it easier to deploy apps and features across a broader array of devices in a single step. However, for a lot of Chrome OS users, especially those in education where it has proven to be extremely popular, there is some angst that the best features of Chrome OS will be lost in the change to a single operating system. Google senior vice president Hiroshi Lockheimer has since taken to his Twitter account to let followers know the company is “very committed to Chrome OS.”
In his tweet, Lockheimer notes that Google’s Chromebook devices have a lot of momentum behind them now and he even notes that he recently purchase two for his kids to use for their schoolwork. Of course, being committed to Chrome OS does not really change the possibility of it being merged with Android or that the commitment is not somehow going to be limited by time, say until 2017 when the new unified operating system is projected to be available. Hopefully Lockheimer’s statement does mean Google will continue development of the operating system, making refinements and adding features, in parallel with development of a new, single operating system for all devices.
What are your thoughts about a merged Chrome OS and Android operating system?
There’s a ton of momentum for Chromebooks and we are very committed to Chrome OS. I just bought two for my kids for schoolwork!
— Hiroshi Lockheimer (@lockheimer) October 30, 2015
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source: Hiroshi Lockheimer (Twitter)
Come comment on this article: Google’s Lockheimer says commitment still there for Chrome OS
Android + Chrome OS: four big questions
Instead of having Chrome OS for computers and Android for mobile devices, we could see a new, single operating system emerging next year. Chrome OS will be folded into Android, according to “people familiar with the matter” who spoke to The Wall Street Journal recently. Why is Google going all-in with Android? What will happen to Chrome OS? And what kind of impact will this move have?
Why? Why? Why?
The reason Google picked Android is easy enough to discern – it’s really popular. Android smartphone shipments worldwide have been around 80% of the market for the last two years now, according to IDC. Mobile Internet usage is growing, it overtook desktop last year, and a disproportionate number of younger users are only ever going online on smartphones and tablets, and rarely, if ever, using desktops.
Beyond the stunning popularity of mobile and Android, there’s also the fact that the platform has a huge library of apps, it’s already creeping onto a wide variety of other devices, from TVs to cars. People are familiar and comfortable with it. Adding computers will accelerate the juggernaut, pulling in more developers, manufacturers, and consumers.
Was it inevitable?
Talk about a merger has been ever-present for the last few years. Sergey Brin said, back in 2009, “Android and Chrome will likely converge over time.” Just last week Sundar Pichai told analysts, “mobile as a computing paradigm is eventually going to blend with what we think of as desktop today.”
The surprising Google Pixel C may have been a sign of the new direction, but was it inevitable? I asked if Google was bringing Android and Chrome OS together back in April and concluded it didn’t need to, clearly the folks at Mountain View disagree. It seems I was wrong. I can admit it. Though, I think it will be a real shame if Google ditches Chrome OS completely, especially since Chromebooks have been steadily increasing market share, and made real inroads in education, not least because of their affordability.
Worldwide Chromebook sales are expected to be 7.3 million this year, up 27% from last year, when the education industry accounted for 72% of sales, according to Gartner.
See also: Google Pixel C hands-on and first look
What will happen to Chrome OS?
The WSJ report suggests that Chrome OS will remain as an open source platform that other companies can use for laptops, and that Google will maintain it for the foreseeable future. There’s also the suggestion that Chromebooks will be rebranded. You certainly won’t need to throw your Chromebook away, but it does inevitably mean that developers are not going to want to develop anything new for Chrome OS, and in the long term, it could well wither and die.
Apart from the low prices, and the fact that Chrome OS made low-end hardware potentially useful, by running nearly everything online in the browser, there’s another good reason to mourn its potential passing. Chrome OS is relatively secure with sandboxing, verified boot, data encryption, recovery mode, and automatic updates. By contrast, all of Android’s detractors have consistently criticized its security credentials. Take a look at the security community and you’ll see a lot of consternation about this move.
What will happen to Android?
Google obviously can’t put Android in its current form on computers and expect people to use it. A true merger is going to necessitate some major changes to the platform. Security is an obvious area of focus for improvement, especially if it wants to push Android laptops into the workplace. We know Google has been working on this, but a big part of the problem is the difficulty in getting manufacturers and carriers to push out vital updates, particularly for older devices.
Android also has a touch-based interface. One of its strengths is the fact that it has been designed for touch screens. Anyone who has tried using a keyboard and mouse, or a trackpad, with Android can attest that the user experience is less than great. Another thing Android users have long wanted is proper split-screen baked into the platform. The idea of a laptop without windowed apps is ridiculous, so it surely has to come.
Android 6 contains the foundation of multi-window, but it’s still clunky.
We can expect to see a number of changes to Android, but how quickly they’ll come, and how Google will divide the experience between desktop and mobile remains to be seen.
Looking at the competition
It’s interesting to take a look at the competition here. Microsoft is in a similar situation to Google, but it has come from the opposite angle. It had a hugely popular, dominant desktop OS, but it tried and failed repeatedly to create a smartphone platform that could make an impact.
Now, it is finally coming out with a unified approach, with some cross-compatibility of software. The Continuum feature allows you to plug your Windows 10 Mobile phone into a big screen, and scales up the user interface for a desktop experience that works with keyboard and mouse. Will Google try to do something similar with Android?
Apple definitely won’t be getting in on the act. At BoxWorks 2015, Tim Cook was asked about merging iOS with OS X, and he said, “We don’t believe in having one operating system for PC and mobile. We think it subtracts from both, and you don’t get the best experience from either. We’re very much focused on two.”
Whether you’re a fan of Tim Cook or not, it’s hard to argue with that statement. It’s really up to Google to prove him wrong.
I love Android on my phone, but imagine using an Android device for all of your work. It would not be fun. The question is whether Google can make the necessary changes to Android to make it a viable desktop platform without impinging on the smartphone experience. That’s not an easy task.
You also have to ask yourself if any of the motivation for this comes from consumer demand. Do we really need a unified OS? Would you buy an Android laptop? Do you believe Google can make it work, or is this a bad move? Hit the comments.
Android boss says Google is still “very committed” to Chrome OS
Chrome OS may be absorbed into Android at some point, but Google is not ready to talk about its demise just yet.
The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that Google will “fold” Chrome OS into Android by 2017. That’s due to the prevalence of Android over the capable, but largely unpopular cloud-centric model of Chrome OS, according to the people familiar with the matter. The dual approach of Android on phones and Chrome OS on PCs is “no longer relevant to Google,” the story goes.
In the hours after the WSJ story was published, The Verge and Recode both independently confirmed the information. We will reportedly get our first look at the Android-Chrome OS hybrid at Google I/O next year.
According to Recode, Chrome OS and Chromebooks won’t be going away, at least not right away. Google’s partners will still get to use Chrome OS for their laptops, which have proven a hit in schools and enterprise. But laptops makers will also be able to choose Android for their products.
Hiroshi Lockheimer, the newly anointed head of Android and Chrome, took to Twitter to reassure Chrome OS fans that the operating system will live on, in one form or another.
There’s a ton of momentum for Chromebooks and we are very committed to Chrome OS. I just bought two for my kids for schoolwork!
— Hiroshi Lockheimer (@lockheimer) October 30, 2015
We can’t expect Lockheimer to fess up on Google’s long-term plans. And, small as the Chrome OS ecosystem may be, Google still needs to reassure users, developers, and partners that they are not investing in a dead platform.
Lockheimer’s tweet, however, can be taken as a sign that Chrome OS will live on in some form, even if it’s just functionality integrated into Android.
It will definitely be a very interesting 12-24 months in the world of Android. After tackling wearables, TVs, and autos, Google seems ready to make Android a real computer operating system. It definitely won’t be easy, and Android will need a massive revamp in order to make it truly PC-friendly. But the horizon opened by this expansion is wide open.
Report: Google to fold Chrome OS into Android by 2017
For years now, there has been an awkward disconnect between Google’s two main operating systems – Chrome OS and Android. While Android was geared towards more touch-friendly interfaces such as smartphones and tablets, Chrome OS was better suited for the desktop, which is why Google powered all of its Chromebooks with the lean OS. Unsurprisingly, that might be changing sometime soon, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal.
The single OS will become available in the year 2017
The report states that, according to people familiar with the matter, Google plans to fold its Chrome OS into Android by the year 2017. Google engineers have supposedly been working for roughly two full years on the big transition, and have just made significant progress recently. The single operating system will become officially available in the year 2017, though Google will show off an early version next year.
The new version of Android will also run on PCs and will have access to the Google Play Store. Google apparently wants to get its moneymaking software (Search and YouTube) on as many devices as possible, so what better way to do it than this. Additionally, Chromebooks will apparently be renamed, though the new name has yet to be revealed. Google’s Chrome browser will retain the Chrome name.
Related: Google Pixel C hands-on and first look
Although it sounds like a stark change in mindset, this should come as no surprise to anyone who’s been watching Chrome OS and Android develop throughout the years. We’ve seen Microsoft do the same thing with Windows 10, which allows some applications to run on both PCs and mobile devices. Google just recently unveiled a new tablet at its big Nexus event in September called the Pixel C, which, oddly enough, runs Android. It’s the first device in the company’s Pixel line of laptops to drop Chrome OS and run Android, which was no doubt an interesting move. Google has also made Android applications available on Chrome recently, which should be the biggest sign of the two operating systems coming together.
Those are all of the details we have for now, but we’ll definitely let you know once we learn more. For now, tell us – are you excited for Android and Chrome OS coming together, or do you think Chrome OS is better suited for the desktop?
New HP Chromebook 14: cheaper, better battery life and different processor
Chrome OS is known for its light software, snappy performance and simplicity, but we can probably thank the platform’s affordable prices for most of its success. Gone are the days when you had to spend hundreds of dollars just to get a half decent computer. There’s plenty of accessible Chromebooks around, and HP is adding a new one to the list today.
Well, they aren’t exactly making a brand new one; it’s more of a refreshed version of last year’s HP Chromebook 14. But there are enough changes in the new model to make this a newsworthy event.
The refreshed HP Chromebook 14 is improved in a few key ways. Let’s start with the best news: it’s much cheaper at only $249.99 (to start). The base version features a 14-inch 1366×768 display, but you can upgrade to a 1080p screen by paying $30 more (not sure if the higher resolution will affect battery life much).
HP is promising 9 hours and 15 minutes of battery life. This is definitely an improvement on the last generation Chromebook, which could go for about 8 hours. Also an important change is the switch to an Intel Celeron N2840 processor, instead of last gen’s NVIDIA K1 SoC. Other specs include the usual 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, USB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, microSD support and more.
And of course, you get your freebies, which encompass 12 free Gogo in-flight internet passes, 3 free Google Play movie rentals and 90 days of free Google Play Music (assuming you haven’t used your free trial yet).
Interested? Look forward to seeing the new HP Chromebook 14 in store shelves by November 8th, while the $279 iteration is set to hit the USA later this month. We will have to wait and see how well the new processor and improved battery do, but so far this is certainly looking like a good option for those in need of a Chromebook, and the reduced price sure is nice. Are any of you getting one?
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Google CEO Sundar Pichai assigns Hiroshi Lockheimer as head of Android, Chrome OS and Chromecast
Google’s new business model was sure to result in plenty of changes around the company’s headquarters. While plenty of Google subsidiaries are breaking up to become their own projects (Alphabet), Google will continue thriving under the leadership of new CEO Sundar Pichai. The dust is starting to settle and it’s time to assign chores around the house, and that is exactly what Pichai has done.
The Search Giant’s Chief Executive Officer has promoted a few of vice presidents to higher roles. Neal Mohan is now Senior Vice President of Display and Video Advertising. Phillip Schindler is also taking on a new role as SVP of Global Sales and Operations.
More importantly (to us, at least) is the new position Hiroshi Lockheimer is taking on. He was just assigned to look over our favorite mobile OS, as well as a couple other projects. Surely, jotting down “SVP of Android, Chrome OS and Chromecast” on a resume is no small feat. And it just so happens to be a position Sundar Pichai is very close to, as he used to be SVP of Android, Chrome and Apps.
Moving forward, we are all but guaranteed to be hearing a lot from Hiroshi, a person most of you probably don’t know much about just yet. He is no small timer at Google, though. Lockheimer has been int he company since 2006, and has been acting as VP of Android until this promotion. Lockheimer is a key player in dealing with falling profits and expanding onto new platforms (automotive, wearables, IoT, etc.).
Some new faces are about to start showing up at announcements, guys! It’s pretty exciting, but more exciting is thinking about the changes this new leadership can bring. We are sure Sundar made smart choices here, so we are excited to see what comes out of this, as well as Alphabet.
AIVAnet 